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Pre-Dispatch Auction Checklist

Auto Auction Vehicle Pickup Checklist

An auction transport order is most reliable when the release information is complete before the carrier is sent. This checklist is designed to reduce preventable dry runs, storage charges and loading surprises across physical and digital auction pickups. The auction's own current rules always control.

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Phoenix Auto Dispatch Planning Guide
Prepared by Phoenix Auto Dispatch · Reviewed August 26, 2026 · U.S. vehicle transport · How this guide is researched
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Key Planning Points

Do not dispatch until the vehicle is paid/released under the auction's current process.
Record the exact branch, yard or seller pickup location and its transporter hours.
Provide the lot/stock/VIN and required release, gate or pickup information.
Record the last free-storage or required pickup date when the auction publishes one.
Describe the vehicle's loading condition accurately and send photos for unusual damage.

1. Purchase and release readiness

Do not assume winning the vehicle means it can immediately be loaded. The auction or seller's release status should be confirmed first.

2. Exact pickup location

Large auction companies operate multiple branches, and digital marketplaces may release from a seller's lot rather than a branded facility.

3. Deadline and storage

If the vehicle has a time-sensitive pickup requirement, include it in the initial quote request rather than waiting until a carrier is already assigned.

4. Loading condition

A generic 'inoperable' label may not be enough. The difference between a no-start vehicle that rolls normally and a collision vehicle with locked wheels can determine whether ordinary auto-transport equipment is suitable.

Inoperable vehicle shipping →

5. Platform-specific instructions

Use the current workflow for the actual marketplace or auction. Phoenix maintains separate planning guides for commonly encountered pickup systems, but those guides are secondary to the live instructions issued for the specific purchase.

Copart pickup planning →IAA pickup planning →Manheim pickup planning →OPENLANE pickup planning →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common preventable auction pickup problem?

Incomplete release or pickup information is a major avoidable problem because a transporter can arrive at the right facility and still be unable to take the vehicle.

Should I wait until a carrier is assigned to check the storage deadline?

No. Provide the deadline before dispatch so urgency and carrier availability can be evaluated correctly.

Can I use the same checklist for every auction company?

Use it as a planning framework, but the auction's current release, appointment, gate and storage rules control the actual pickup.

Related Auto Transport Resources

Dealer & Auction Auto TransportHow to Ship a Car You Bought OnlineInoperable Vehicle ShippingCar Shipping Cost GuideVehicle Condition & Loading ChecklistDamaged & Salvage Vehicle TransportShipping a Car Without KeysCollector Auction & Concours Vehicle Transport PlanningHigh-Value Vehicle Shipping ChecklistRequest an Auction Transport QuoteExpedited CoordinationEnclosed Transport

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Use the quote form for current route, vehicle, equipment and timing details rather than relying on a generic national rate.

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